Serum Thyroglobulin Antibody as a Tumor Marker in Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma and its Correlation with FNAC and Histopathology

Abstract

Background: This longitudinal descriptive study was conducted for the first time in the department of Pathology, Rajshahi Medical College in order to evaluate the prognostic significance of serum TgAb as a tumor marker for differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Objective: The aim of this study to detect the antibody positive differentiated thyroid carcinoma using serum TgAb and compare with the FNAC and histopathological findings. Method: A total forty patients of clinically, radiologically and by FNAC diagnosed as differentiated thyroid carcinoma were selected attending in the department of Otolaryngology, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital from January 2010 to December 2011. Preoperative serum TgAb level (TgAbl) was measured in all patients taking cut off value as 40 IU/ml. Biopsy material were examined for histopathological diagnosis. 3-6 months after thyroidectomy postoperative serum TgAb level (TgAb2) was measured in those patients only who were TgAbl positive. Result: The correlation, association and statistical analysis of preoperative and postoperative serum TgAb level were computed against histopathological diagnosis. Out of forty cases, 35 were papillary and 5 were follicular carcinoma. Mean age was 25.48+9.70 years and Male: Female was 1:6. In this study, 9 cases (22.5%) were TgAb positive preoperatively and 2 cases showed highest level 3000 and 2200 IU/ml. Post operative TgAb level of 9 cases showed significant reduction. Statistical analysis demonstrates significant correlation (P=<0.01) and association (P=<0.05) between preoperative and postoperative TgAb level. Conclusion: So, it is concluded that serum TgAb level can be used as a tumor marker in antibody positive differentiated thyroid carcinoma.